Lisa squinted her eyes at her painting of Lenore as she put on the finishing touches. Just adding a small amount of lighting to the woman's face, and she was done. Lisa sat up and smiled as she admired her handy work. After five days of work sketching and painting, it was done. The portrait was an image of a beautiful pale woman with raven black hair going down to her elbows against a dark red backdrop. Her eyes were closed like she was asleep and she had a Mona Lisa smile on her face. She was dressed in a long-sleeved dark navy dress seen from the waist down with a flower crown of blood red roses on top of her head; her hands folded over her lap.
Lisa thought it was probably the best work she's done; so far at least. But she wanted to know what Wednesday and her friends thought of it. She would just have to wait until school was over for the day to show them. For now, she had to let it dry, clean up and give Morticia back her paints and brushes. Lisa gathered up all the painting things and made her way downstairs.
"Morticia? Are you down here?" Lisa called out in the living room.
"I'm in here, Lisa."
Lisa looked in the direction where she heard Morticias voice coming from. She made her way out of the living and into a greenhouse of sorts. Lisa blinked as she looked at different kinds of plants around the room; most of them a bit dangerous looking with flytrap mouths and very long and thorny vines. She calmed down a bit when she spotted Morticia feeding one of them with something that looked like meatballs; quickly getting noticed as Morticia turned around.
"Have you finished painting for today, Lisa?" The woman in black asked as she went back to feeding the plant.
"Better. I've finished it for good." Lisa said with a proud grin in her face. "I'm just letting it dry and I'll show it to the girls when they get back from school. And I'm done with your paints. Thanks for letting me borrow them."
"That's wonderful to hear, dear. Don't worry about cleaning up. Just put them on that little table over there and I'll take care of it after I finish tending to my plants." Morticia told Lisa before feeding the monster plant some more meatballs.
Lisa did as Morticia instructed and put the brushes and paints on a nearby table. She already cleaned the brushes and put the lids back on so the paint would not dry out. Artists had to respect each other's equipment and treat it like it was their own. Morticia was about to give the plant one last meatball. But she stopped when she noticed something a bit odd in the air. A strange yet pleasant scent lingered in the room. But she could not put her finger on it.
"That's odd. It smells like strawberries all of a sudden." Morticia told Lisa with a slightly puzzled tone.
Lisa was not sure what Morticia was getting at first. But she quickly realized and remembered.
"It's probably just me, Morticia. I took a shower early this morning and washed my hair before breakfast with some shampoo and conditioner I got from the mall the other day." Lisa explained with a short laugh.
Morticia nodded when she remembered hearing the shower going this morning.
"Yes. And you're wearing a different set of earrings as well." Morticia pointed to the lightning bolt studs Lisa had on. "I'm glad you had a lovely afternoon with the children. You must have started getting tired of being indoors for too long."
Lisa Nodded in agreement as she recalled the outing with the kids from four days ago.
"Yeah. I was starting to get a little bored with the rain making it hard to go anywhere." She said as she rubbed the back of her neck.
The little smile on Morticias' pale face slowly disappeared as she looked outside; watching as the clouds slowly drifted away to show patches of blue sky. Soon they would be gone and make way for the burning bright sun. Lisa noticed Morticias' slight change in expression and blinked curiously.
"You alright, Morticia?" She asked with a mildly concerned tone.
"Oh I'm fine, dear." Morticia reassured before explaining. "I was just thinking about how the rain will stop soon. I suppose that means you'll be on your way."
Lisa blinked as Morticia said that rather strange thing.
"Come Again?" Lisa asked Morticia to repeat or explain.
"Don't you remember? You said were only staying with us for longer then you planned. Gomez and I assumed you were staying for the lovely storms." Morticia reminded her guest about what she said last week. "It's going to be a shame to see you go. Everyone has gotten used to having you here."
Lisa realised that Morticia was being very sincere. And she recalled her saying that she was only staying while the weather was like that when she got here. Hearing that made Lisa think about it. The Addamses were being nothing but kind to her by offering her shelter here. She did not want to out stay her welcome. But the thought of going back to New York and Jasper finding her gave her the shivers. Lisa looked up as she thought of something to say.
"Actually, Morticia; if it's okay with you and your husband... I was hoping I could stay a little longer." Lisa responded nervously as she rubbed her arm.
Morticia quickly gave Lisa her full attention as she spoke; her usually calm eyes widening only slightly.
"You are?" Mrs Addams asked with more delight then she intended.
Lisa took a moment to think before she explained why she thought about staying longer.
"Well, it's mostly because I'm not sure where I would go if I did leave. And I don't want to miss that drama thing Wednesday and her friends are doing. I did help with it a little after all." Lisa explained in full.
Lisa noticed that Morticia was giving her an almost unnoticeable smile when she gently took her hand and held it.
"You can stay as long as you need to, Lisa dear. It's really a pleasure having you here with us." Morticia reassured the young lady.
Lisa blinked as her cheeks turned into a faint shade of pink.
"That's very nice of you to say." She replied with a little grateful smile.
"I won't tell if you don't." Morticia said with a disappearing smile. "So, what are going to do for the rest of day now that you've finished the portrait?"
Lisa blinked as she looked down and put her hand to her chin in thought. She did not really have a lot to do. She could fill up the remaining pages in her sketchbook and start on the new one. She even had coloured markers and pencils to use now. Maybe she could play a game on her phone. But she would end up wasting the battery and have to ask Fester charge it again; which she really did not want to do nytime soon. She shrugged as she looked back up to Morticia.
"Maybe I'll work on some of my own stuff and fill up my old sketchbook." Lisa said with a little smile. "Feel like I should keep the art ball rolling a little longer, ya know."
"Well said, dear. Can't let that creative energy go to waste." Morticia encouraged as she picked up the empty tray to take it back to the kitchen for Lurch to wash later.
Lisa watched briefly as Morticia left the greenhouse; smiling as she made her way out with a quick step. But she stopped and looked down to see a vine stretched across the door way. Lisa shook her head as she lifted up her leg and took a big step over it. She looked back with a playful grin at the vicious looking plant life.
"Nice try." She teased before making her way back to her room; not hearing the plants growling in annoyance.
Lisa kept her smile on as she opened the door to the guest room; grabbing her pencil case and sketchbook before jumping front first onto the bed. She sat up and placed a pillow over her lap; positioning her sketchbook on top of it. She took the pencil out of the spine and clicked the eraser end to push out the right amount of lead. Lisa looked down as she opened up on a blank page; ready to bring out the artistic vision in her head onto paper.
...
But she just stared at the page with her pencil sitting in her hand. Her smile slowly turned into a confused frown as she tried to think of something to draw. But nothing was coming up.
"Oh, no..." She muttered with her face in her hands as she still thought of nothing.
Lisa was having something she hated more than brain freeze.
Artist block.
She let out a frustrated groan as she fell backwards on the bed. She looked up at the ceiling as her mind drew a blank; void of any ideas. She wanted to create something so badly; but nothing was coming to her. Lisa took a deep breath as she sat back up; telling herself to keep calm and relax. She was not going to get anywhere if she stressed herself out for no reason. She leaned forward and scratched her head.
All the times when Lisa did any drawing here, it was always in the guestroom. Maybe she needed a change in her surroundings. With that idea, she moved the pillow off her lap and picked up her drawing things with her sketchbook; getting up off the bed and leaving the guestroom. Lisa looked around as she made her way downstairs; hoping one of the odd and peculiar things in the living room might give her an idea. But she just let out a frustrated sigh as she sat down on the couch. Nothing was coming to her. The weird antlered moose was doing nothing for her. The painting with the giraffe in a suit was not sparking any inspiration. Lisa just leaned against the arm of couch as nothing in the room gave her an idea. The displeased look on her face softened when she took notice of the noose hanging in the corner. Lisa blinked as she recalled her incident with Cleopatra last week and how Lurch came to her aid after she tugged on the rope a few times and accidently summoned him for assistance. Cleopatra was pulling her like a toy, so she did not really have a choice.
But looking at the noose made her think of something odd. Maybe Lisa needed do something a little to what she usually did. Maybe instead of doing something cartoonish, she could try something a bit more realistic.
Lisa got up from couch as she put her things aside for the moment. She put her way to the noose and looked around; wandering if the butler was actually around to hear the loud gong. Reaching up with a struggle and a stretch, Lisa grabbed the noose and pulled it down; setting off the loud house shaking sound of a gong. Lisa just stood there for a moment and waited for Lurch to come in through the kitchen or the greenhouse.
"You rang?..."
Lisa jumped with a light squeak as she heard the deep voice behind her; quickly turning around to see Lurch standing right behind her. Lisa caught her breath as she recovered from her minor scare. Lurch just stared and blinked as she looked up at him.
"You're pretty fast and quiet for a big guy." Lisa commented as she straightened herself out.
Lurch just replied with a low groan and nothing else. Lisa stared at him briefly before nodding slowly.
"Okay then. So, Lurch; are you busy by any chance?" She asked the butler if he was doing anything important at the moment.
Lurch just shook his head with a low groan. A mildly delighted smile appeared on Lisa's face.
"Oh great! Cause I was actually hoping you could help me out with something." She said with a nervous looking grin. "I'm having a bit of art block and I think maybe I need to try something different. Like, maybe a slightly more realistic piece."
Lurch blinked tiredly before Lisa finally asked her request.
"So, if you don't mind, or don't think it's too weird." Lisa stalled before actually asking. "Could I draw a sketch of you?"
Lurch took a moment to process what Lisa just asked before his eyes widen slightly. The butler slowly pointed at himself in question.
"Me?..." He questioned quietly.
"Yeah; like you just sit still on a chair and I'll draw you." Lisa explained before asking again. "Is that okay with you?"
Lurch was not sure how to respond. He tried shrugging to let Lisa know how he felt about it. But Lisa mistook it for a nod.
"Oh, thank you. Just hang on a minute while I set up." She instructed with an eager grin before running off down to the basement.
Lurch wanted to stop and correct her; but Lisa was gone in a flash before he could say anything. Lurch just stood there in uncomfortable confusion until she came back with a stool for him to pose on. He almost flinched when she came up to him and grabbed him by his arms.
"Now you just sit here and I'll figure out what angle works best for you." Lisa said as she led Lurch to the stool and made him sit down.
Lurch just sat still and watched as Lisa sat and balanced herself on the arm of the couch as she picked her sketchbook and turned to the last blank page. She took her pencil and looked up at Lurch as she positioned her it over the paper. But she stopped and raised a brow at the butler.
"You don't have to be all stiff like that." She commented on the butlers' hunched-over position. "just Loosen up a little and get comfortable."
Lurch blinked as he looked down at the floor nervously. But he took a quiet breath as sat up a little straighter and placed his hands above his lap; looking less nervous and stiff, but only slightly more relaxed. Lisa squinted slightly as she shook her a little.
"Could you turn to your left a little? I want to get a good look at your heterochromia." She asked him to turn slightly.
Lurch just responded with a confused sounding groan at the last word as he tilted his head slightly. Lisa quickly realized what she just said before explaining what she meant.
"That pretty yellow eye you've got; I want a got look at it while I draw you." She explained as she readied her pencil.
Lurch quickly nodded as he understood; adjusting himself so he was sitting at a slight angle and so Lisa could see his discoloured eye from where she was sitting; smiling when she looked up at him.
"Prefect. Don't move another muscle." Lisa said as she starting sketching.
Lurch stayed still like a statue as he heard the lead of Lisa's mechanical pencil touching the paper of her sketchbook; looking up at him every couple of seconds before looking back at the work in progress. After a few minutes of silence, Lisa thought it would be a good idea to talk to her subject while she worked.
"So, Lurch. You do anything fun?" She asked as she started sketching his head and shoulders. "Like, do you play sports on weekends or are you writing a novel in your spare time?"
Lurch took a moment and thought of how to respond to the question. He just came up with something simple.
"I, like reading..." the butler spoke slowly as he stayed still.
Lisa nodded as she continued sketching.
"I noticed you have a pair of reading glasses. I don't. I have twenty-four seven glasses." She replied with a quiet laugh at her own joke. "Have you read anything good lately?"
Lurch quickly nodded once before answering.
"Finished Good Omens recently." The butler said with a deep tone of voice.
Lisa looked up with a smile on her face.
"I love that one! I had a copy of it a few years back. But I lent it to one of my friends and never saw it again." Lisa replied with a short story.
Lurch groaned quietly as his eyes rolled the other way. That's why he never let anyone borrow his books. He listened as Lisa got back to sketching and continued sitting still. He listened as Lisa continued speaking to him while she worked.
"Do you go out often?" She asked him as she looked up to him.
"Not, really..." Lurch answered blankly.
Lisa nodded as she continued sketching before she replied.
"Not much of a people person, huh?" She asked.
Lurch just replied with an irritated sounding groan at the thought of interacting with people against his will. Mostly because of how they acted and behaved around him; either staring or running away screaming.
"I'll take that as a no then." Lisa said as she looked back down and started adding detail to the sketch. "I'm not really big on crowds. I can't really go somewhere crowded without someone I trust. Like having them there for moral support and safety stuff like that. Ya know what I mean?"
Lurch only nodded slowly in understanding. It was nice to have someone to rely on when you needed it. The butler found it nice that Lisa was asking questions about him and wanted to get to know him better. Maybe he should have a turn and ask her something.
"What, do you, like?..."
Lisa looked up from the page as she heard Lurch ask her a question.
"What do I like?" She repeated the question.
Lurch nodded slightly in response. Lisa took a moment to think of how to answer.
"Well, I like drawing and singing. Sometimes. But you probably already knew that." She answered with a slight shrug before continuing. "I'm really into movies as well. The last one I saw was the one about a super-fast turquoise coloured marsupial."
Lurch listened for the next few minutes as Lisa continued to talk while working on the art piece. Lurch found it intriguing how quiet she was when she first came here. Now she was chatting up a storm for him to listen to. Lurch did not really mind it; he liked the sound of her voice. He thought it was nice that she was being a bit more open than she was before.
But it did make him wander why she was so quiet and reserved at first. Maybe it was just because she was in a place she did not recognize and had trouble getting used to at first. But thinking about that brought up the thought of that bruise Lisa had on her arm last week. What if something happened before she came here? She said she was just traveling when she stumbled into the yard; but it was quite concerning.
"I'm done."
Lurch immediately lost his train of thought when Lisa announced she completed the art work. He noticed she looked up at him with a pleased grin.
"You can move now." She told the butler as she stood up off the couch.
With that said, Lurch took the opportunity and stood up. Lisa flinched as Lurch moved his neck and arms to stretch while a rather uncomfortable cracking sound could be heard before he went back to his usually hunched over stature. Lisa quickly put it aside and walked up to him.
"Just letting you know; I'm used to doing more stylised things." She warned the butler as she stood beside him. "But I think I've gotten most of your features down."
Lurch watched as Lisa adjusted her sketchbook and turned it around so he could see his portrait. He blinked as he got a proper look at it; finding himself looking at a slightly messy yet decent sketch of himself from the waist up on stool. The butler tilted his head a little to the left as he looked at the mirror image on paper; listening to Lisa as she started talking again.
"Sorry if I made you look weird." Lisa apologized as Lurch continued to look. "I've only done this type of art once and I'm not really good at it."
Lurch blinked in confusion as Lisa under sold herself like that. From what he could see, Lisa was a good artist. Lurch was not much of an art expert; but he thought the portrait was lovely. The sketching was a little messy and probably needed a little polishing with details. But he thought it was lovely; and Lurch never thought of himself as lovely. At least not in the traditional way.
"I, like it..." Lurch said as sincerely as he could.
Lisa looked up at him with a raised brow; unsure if he really meant what he said.
"You actually like it?" She asked with her brow still raised.
Lisa blinked in mild surprise when Lurch gave her a rather quick nod. She looked at the floor with a rather puzzled look on her face.
"Well, you're easy to please. The last guy I did this for said I should stick to my day job." She said as she held it up and looked at it with an uncertain frown. "Unfortunately, I can see what he meant."
Lurch blinked in confusion as Lisa put herself down. He looked at the picture again and looked back forth between it and her. It was a bit messy, but it was almost on par with Mrs Addams and her artworks. Lisa probably did not want to be compared with someone else. So Lurch decided to say something simple yet uplifting.
"You, have room to improve..." Lurch said in a deep reserved tone of voice as Lisa looked up at him.
Lisa blinked as she looked back down in thought while Lurch watched her ponder his words. After a few seconds, Lisa cheered up a little with a small smile.
"Yeah, you're right. I've been doing my own style for years since middle school and I'm good at that." She said in a slightly more cheerful tone as she looked back up at Lurch. "Practicing a different style wouldn't hurt. It might actually be good for me in the long run."
Lurch was about to nod in agreement when Lisa wrapped her arms around him; making him freeze like a statue. Lurch slowly looked down as Lisa only got her arms around the front of him; only standing just below his chest while the scent of strawberries found its way up his nose. The butler stayed completely still until Lisa let go of him and looked up.
"I'm glad you like it. But if you don't mind, I was hoping I could hang onto it." Lisa began to explain rather shyly. "Just so I can fix it up a bit. And I can do a digital version of it when I go home. I can mail it to you when I finish it. Is that okay with you?"
Lisa did not notice Lurch had his slightly wide eyes on as he stared at her. But he responded with a slow nod; letting Lisa hang onto the sketch.
"You're the tops, Lurch. Thanks for doing this." Lisa gave the butler a grateful smile as she turned towards the stairs. "You make a great subject."
Lurch watched as Lisa ran up the stairs and turned the corner to her room. When she was gone, Lurch slowly looked away with one hand gripping his chest as he hunched over slightly. He groaned as he placed his other hand on his face as he felt insides turning cold and his face going red and hot. These strange feelings made him think something was wrong with him.
Lurch tried to calm down by taking a deep breath and straightening himself out; pushing these odd feelings away.
"I'm fine..." He thought to himself as he went off to do some chores; hopefully getting his mind off Lisa.
AN: If this chapter seems like it took forever, It's because I've been busy with job searching.
